Combined stapling and folding machine



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. R. HEYL.

COMBINED STAPLING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 389,147. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

H xi

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. R. HEYL.

COMBINED STAPLING AND FOLDING MACHINE. No; 389,147. Patented Sept. 4,1888.

N. PETERS, Photo-Lflhognphcr, Wzihmgtan. u C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEIQE.

HENRY R. HEYL, OF PHILADELPHTA, PENNSYLVANTA.

COMBINED STAPLING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,147, datedSeptember 4, 1888.

Serial No. 210,220.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. HnYL,of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inStapling and Folding llfachines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention consists in the application of a series of wirestaplingdevices and their operating mechanism to such parts of a bookfoldingmachine and in such manner con structed as to combine with the foldingthe fastening of the sheets with wire staples in the one operation offolding to avoid the usual second handling of the sheets to secure themwith staples after the folding has been com pleted. To effect thisresult it is necessary that the staples should be inserted into thesheets at that point in the folding operation just before the last foldis made, and that the staples shall be inserted accurately in the lineof said fold.

It is obvious that the invention applies, without material alteration,tosuch a construction of the parts of the machine that the sta ples may beinserted through the paper from below upward or from above downward,asmay be desired; nor does it alter the device to combiue the cover withthesheets atone operation of stapling, if the folding-machine is soconstructed as to present the cover with the sheets in proper positionsimultaneously to receive the staples.

The essential features of this invention consist in the employment andadaptation of the two elements of the well-known wire staplingdevicesviz., the staple forming and driving device and thestapleclinching dcvice in such relation to and in combination with thefolding mechanism of a book-folding machine that during the operationsof folding the sheets, andjust before the last fold is made, thestapling devices maybe brought into service to secure the sheetstogether, which, when afterward folded, completes the binding of apamphlet under one continuous operation. \Vhile it would be practical.to construct such a machine in a manner that the stapling of the sheetsis done just before said sheets are carried into position to receive thelast fold, I consider it more mechanical, and likely to produce moreaccurate work, to perform the stapling while the sheets lie in theirlast position preparatory to receiving the last fold. In thisconstruction it is necessary that the two elements of the staplingdevice should not only operate the one above the sheets and the otherbelow in the same way as if stapling the sheets in the other positionabove referred to, but that one member of the stapling device shouldcome up between the foldingrollers to do its work in conjunction withthe other member, which is above the sheets lying over thefolding-rollers, and also that the foldingrollers should automaticallyseparate to allow this intervention of the stapling device, and afterthe latter has completed its work it shall drop down and allow thefolding-rollers to close toward each other again to compress and foldthe sheets as they are carried down between them for delivery as afinished pamphlet.

A description of the construction of the several parts of the machine ascombined to staple the sheets while they lie in position ready for thefinal folding being equally applicable to the equivalent construction incase the stitching is to be performed before the sheets reach theirfinal position over the foldingrollers, I will confine my explanation tothe various parts arranged to operate in but the one position,preferably the first above named.

In the accompanying d rawings,forming part of this specification, I omitall parts of the folding-machine that prepare the sheets for thestapling and final folding, as those parts are not essential to adescription of my invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section (on line aw, Fig. 2) of a book-foldingmachine, showing also the stapling devices in position as if justcompleting their part of the work, and just before they recede to allowthe folding-rollers to close toward each other preparatory to the finalfolding of the sheet. Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation of the sameon line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the staplingdevice in connection with the fold ing-rollers and the device forseparating the said rollers to give space for the stapling devices topass up between them.

Between the two side frames, A, of the fold ing-machine and verticallyunder the foldingrollers C are placed the staple forming and drivingdevices N". Any number of these staples that may be required are mountedupon LOO a cross-bar, N, which is firmly attached at each end to uprightsliding plates U. These sliding plates lie against planed surfaces ofthe frame A, and are guided at their lower ends by a shaft or stud, U,which enters a short slot, U", in the frame A,s'o that the sliding'frame, consisting of the platesU and crossbar N, may move up and downfreely within the limits of the slotU Another cross-bar, N,extendingacross between the plates Uand into longer slots, n, inthe plates U, hasalso a vertical motion within the limits of'said slots, and is a supportfor the staple drivers or hammers N. The upper ends of the plates U maybe guided in the same manner as the lower ends, or they may haveaslightlateral motion controlled by a slanting slot, so that when thestapling devices N are at rest at their lowest position their upper endsmay stand back from directly under the space between the foldingrollersO, to facilitate the free passage of the folded sheets downward. Theextreme upper ends of the plates U are narrowed to form what may betermed wedges, which,in passing up between the loose rollers G",force'the folding-rollers C apart sufficiently to allow the staplers Nto pass up between them. The folding-rollers O are journaled in swingingboxes G,which are pressed toward each other by springs c.

As I do not claim as part of this invention any novel form ofstaple-forming device, all description in details of this part of themachine is unuecessary, as any skilled mechanic can adapt the well-knownstapling devices to the purposes of this machine. I have thereforerepresented the staple-forming element as one piece, designated by theletter N, the staple'driver as N, and the staple-clinchers as 1).

That part designated by the letter N is supposed to contain awire-cutter and mechanism for bending the wire into the form of a staplewith its points or legs pointing upward. It contains also a channelthrough which the driver N reciprocatcs, and in which channel the stapleis presented to the driver, to be thereby forced upward and out of thechannel at a. It is necessary that the upper end of the staple-formingdevice N should be thin or flat to enable it to pass up between thefolding-rollers O to apoint in contact with the under side of the sheetsof paper to be stapled. This narrow elongation has no effect upon thestaple-forming devices. It only lengthens the motion of thestaple-driver N As it is common practice to use two staples to eachpamphlet and quite practical to construct this machine of such a Widththat several pamphlets may be stapled at once, Imay place several pairsof stapling devices side by side, adj ustably securing them to thecrossbar N ,whereby the staplers are adjustable toward and from eachother, as the size of the pamphlets to be stapled shall require. Thedrivers N may be also adjustable on the cross-bar N, so that they may beadjusted in positions corresponding with these respective staplers Nsliding motion within guides on the ends of the rocking levers Q, andalso an upward motion with the levers Q to raise the clinchers out ofthe path of the striker D as the latter descends to force the sheetsdown between the foldiug rollers O. The act of clinching the staplelegstoward each other and flat down upon the upper sheet of the pamphlet isperformed by two small rollers within the clincher-block p, whichrollers are set apart sufficiently to allow the staple-legs to standupbetweenthem. Byasidewiseslidiugmovement of the bar P first in onedirection sufficiently to bend or roll down one staple-leg and then inthe reverse direction to roll down the other leg, and by a continuedmotion to again pass over the first leg, the flattening down of bothlegs in line toward each other is accomplished. Other well-known formsof staple clinchers may be substituted for this form and render equallysatisfactory service.

The general operation of the machine, as hereinafter described,willfurther explain the details of construction.

The motion of all parts of the machine is derived from the revolution ofthe main shaft F, which is turned by a belt or gear in connection with aprincipal pulley or gear-wheel, X, coupled to the shaft F by a clutch toenable the operator to start and stop the machine at pleasure. Onerevolution of the shaft F com pletes the operation of stapling andfolding each pamphlet. As the folding-rollers must revolve at a highrate of-speed and may revolve continually, they maybe belted directly toa counter shaft overhead or to a large pulley on-the main shaft F, asmaybe most convenient. Assuming that the paper sheets forming a pamphletare now lying upon the machine-tablejust over the folding-rollers (J inposition to receive their final fold, the first movement of the machinebrings up the series of stapling-heads N between the folding-rollersuntil their upper ends come in contact with the under side of thesheets. This is effected through the aid of cam-wheels J, havingcamslots J, operating uponthe balanced levers T, whose rollers M travelin the cam-slots J. This motion is communicated by other rollers, Ii, onthe'same studs to a lever, K, swinging on the main shaft F, andconnecting with the platesU and bar N by stud Z. By this means theentire upward movement of the staplers N is accomplished withone-quarter revolution of the main shaft F. As the staplers come up, theends of the plates U also come up between the loose rollers G and causethe folding-rollers (J to part to admit the passage of the staplers N",and thus also holding the folding-rollers apart until the staplers godown, when the rollers come together again preparatory to do the finalfolding of the sheets; Simultaneously with the raising of the staplers Nthe cross-bar N by the lever I, through links 0, is also raised. Thestaplers IIO N come up a little in advance of the drivers N, by reasonof the shape of the cam slot k in lever K, which has a rest, k, at itsupper end. This movement of the bar N, caused by its connection throughlink 0 with lever I, causes all the staple-drivers to move upward andforce the staples out of the staplers N at their upper ends and throughthe sheets of paper lying directly over the ends of the staplers N. Thelong motion of the driver N up and down is utilized to operate the partsof the stapleforming devices which cut the wire and make it intostaples, so that at each upward movement of the drivers N a staple comesout at the end a of the staple-heads N At the same time that thestaplers N come up under the sheets the clinchers p are lowered incontact with the upper surface of the sheets by means of the levers Q,rock-shaft Q, journaled in bearings q, and links Q, conveying motionfrom lever K. \Ve now have the two stapling elements brought intocooperation and have staples inserted through the sheets with their legsstanding upward and between the little rollers in clinchers 1). (SeeFig. 2.) The clincher-bar P now makes its sliding motions by means ofthe cam-wheel T and lever S, causing all the clinchers to move acrossthe staple-legs and roll them down, as previously described. Thisoperation may occupy another quarter revolution of the main shaft h. Thelever S acts on the sliding clincherbar P through an upwardly-projectingstud, s, which is curved from the shaft Q as a center, so as to allowthe clincher-bar to be raised without binding or disconnection. Thestaplers N now descend, the clinchers p lift the folding-rollers 0 closetogether, and the striker D starts downward to crease the sheets on aline with the staples and to force the sheets down between the rollers Oto complete the final fold. The motion of the striker D is effectedthrough lever d, connecting-link e, lever E, and roller 6, engaging withcam E, secured to the main shaft. This cam E is so timed that thestriker D comes down as soon as the clinchers are raised high enough tobe out ofits path, so that the folding may begin as soon as possibleafter the staples are clinched. The balance of the one revolution of themain shaft is consumed in carrying the pamphlet down between thefolding-rollers and between the guides G and G into the packer between Hand H and in restoring the striker D to its original position. Thesheet-guides G are mounted upon a shaft at their lower ends, so that asthe staplers N drop down the guide G may fall back over the ends of thestaplers to make sure that the pamphlets do not lodge on the ends of thestaplers in their descent, while the stationary guide G keeps thepamphlets within bounds on the other side. As soon as the pamphlets arereleased by the folding-rollers, they drop down of their own weight intothe packer. The packing of the pamphletsis done in the well-knownmanner, the device employed in my machine having no novelty.

As here shown, the frame H is reeiprocated by links H and lever H,connecting with rock shaft 1', and as a pamphlet drops on this frame itis shoved back of the pawls h, and thereby packed against frame H. Thereturn of frame H makes room for the next pamphlet to fall.

I do not limit myself to the particular mechanisms here shown, as theymay be modified in various ways without departing from my invention,which comprehends, broadly, the combining of folding and staplingdevices to act upon the same pamphlet without two handlings.

Having now described my invention, wliatI claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Ina combined book stapling and folding machine, the combination ofmovable stapling devices, means, substantially as set forth, to bringthem into operative position, movable folding-surfaces, and means,substantially as set forth, to bring them into operative position whenthe stapling devices are out of op erative position, and cam mechanismto control the time of operation of said stapling de vices andfolding-surfaces, whereby the sheets to be bou nd are successivelystapled and folded.

2. The combination ofaslotted table, a folding knife or striker adaptedto pass through said slot, a pair of folding-rollers below the slotrelatively movable to or from each other, and a staple forming anddriving device arranged below the rollers and adapted to be moved upbetween them when in use.

3. The combination of a slotted table, a folding knife or strikeradapted to pass through said slot, a pair of folding-rollersbelow theslot relatively movable to or from each other, a staple forming anddriving device arranged below the rollers and adapted to be moved upbetween them when in use, and a guide for the stapled and folded book toguide it past the staple forming and driving device when lowered.

4. The combination of a slotted table, a folding knife or strikeradapted to pass through said slot, a pair of folding-rollers below theslot relatively movable to or from each other, a staple forming anddriving device arranged below the rollers and adapted to be moved upbetween them when in use, a guide for the stapled and folded book toguide it past the staple forming and driving device when lowered, and apacking device to pack the books in succession.

5. The combination of a pair of foldingrollers movable relatively toeach other, so as to approach and separate, a striker or foldingknifeabove said rollers, a staple forming and driving device below saidrollers, cam devices to move said stapling device up between saidrollers and lower it below them, and operative connecting mechanism tooperate either the striker or staple forming and driving device toenable it to perform its office, but not both at the same time.

6. The combination of a folding striker or knife, a pair offolding-rollers between which the striker enters, a stapling device inline with the contact-line of the rollers,and a booksheet support abovethe rollers for holding the sheets in position to be stapled and foldedwithout moving their position.

7. The combination of a pair of positivelyrotating folding-rollersrelatively movable to and from each other, a staple forming and drivingdevice adapted to be thrust up be tween said rollers, and a stapleclinching device arranged above the rollers and in line with the stapleforming and driving device, means, substantially as described, to movesaid staple forming and driving device and said staple-clinching deviceto or from each other, and a folding knife or striker adapted to foldthe sheets down between the folding-rollers.

8. The combination of a pair of positivelyrotating folding-rollersrelatively movable to and from each other, a staple forming and drivingdevice adapted to be thrust up between said rollers, a staple-clinchingdevice arranged above the rollers and in line with the staple formingand driving device, and means, substantially as described, to move saidstaple forming and driving device and said staple-clinching device to orfrom each other.

9. The combination of a pair of positivelyrotating folding-rollersrelatively movable to and from each other, a staple forming and drivingdevice adapted to be thrust up between said rollers, and a stapleclinching device arranged above the rollers and in line with the stapleforming and driving device, means, snbstantiallyas described, to movesaid staple forming and driving device and said staple-clinching deviceto or from each other, and a paper-support above the rollers and belowthe clinching device.

10. The combination of two folding-rollers movable to and from eachother, a striker or folding-k nife adapted to descend between saidrollers, a staple forming and driving device movable vertically to passbetweenor be lowered out of reach of said rollers, and a movable guidefor the folded books adapted to reach over the top of the staple formingand driving device when lowered to prevent the descending books catchingthereon.

11. The combination of. the folding-rollers with a vertically-movablestaple forming and driving device adapted to enter between said rollers,and guides to cause the top of said staple forming and driving device tomove back from under the rollers when fully lowered.

12. The combination of foldingrollers, a striker or folding-knife, astapleforming and driving device, supporting-bar, and two or morestapling devices arranged in line with said rollers and adjustable onsaid bar, where by they are movable to or from each other.

13. A pair offolding-rollers, O,journale(1 in yielding bearings andprovided with loose collars O or rollers, in combination with wedges U,operating to separate the foldingrollers without interfering with theircontinuous rotation.

14. The combination of the folding-rollers relatively movable toapproach or reeedefrom each other, a striker or folding-knife, avertically-reciprocating staple forming and driving device adapted topass up between said rollers, and mechanism, substantially as described,independent of the staple forming and driving device to separate saidrollers to allow the upward movement of the staple forming and drivingdevice.

15. The combination of the folding-rollers relatively movable toapproach or recede from each other, a striker or folding-knife, avertically-reciprocating staple forming and driving device adapted-topass up between said rollers, and mechanism, substantially as described,consisting of loose rollers on the folding-rollers and a separatingwedge or wedges to work between said loose rollers to separate saidrollers to allow the upward movement of the staple forming and drivingdevice.

16. In an organized binding and foldingmachine, the combination of asupport for the unbound sheets, a stapling device, a folding device, andconnecting mechanism, substantially as set out, to operate said staplingand folding devices in succession, whereby said stapling device actsupon the sheets prior to the folding device.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

HENRY R. I-IEYL.

\Vitnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, GEO. W. REED.

